Feeler-motion for looms.



T. FERGUSON.

FEELER MOTION FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION m0 JAN. 22. 1916.

1,225, 120. Patented May 8, 1917 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[NI/ENTER ifmw M T FERGUSON,

FEELER MOTlON FOR LOOMSL APPLICATION mED-1Au.22.19:e.'

1,225,120. Patented May 8, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STAT

THOMAS FERGUSON, OF LbWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-IVIENTS, TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSAGHUSETTE, A CORPORA-TION F MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

menace.

Improvement in Feele1-\lotio11s for Looms,

of which the tollowing description, in conneetion with the accompanyingdrawings, is

a specification, like characters on the drawings i'e iiresenting likeparts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to t'celer motions torlooms through the agency of which the loom may be stopped or the fillingreplenished when that insthc' shuttle has become substantially thoughnot fully exhausted.

Various forms of feeler mechanisms have heretofore been proposed, someof which depend for their effective action upon measurement of thethickness of the filling on the carrier or bobbin in the shuttle, othersupon movement of the fecler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttlewhen the filling has reached a cond1t1on of substantial exhaustian.Feeler mechanisms to be practically efficient, must be very sensitivebecause on the one hand, when the substantial exhaustion of the fillingis reached and only s a Jientreinains in the shuttle to make one, two,or more picks, as the case may be, the feeler must be sullicientlysensitive to his condition to set in operation a train of mechanism toeffect either replenishment of the filling or loom stoppage, and on theother hand, must effectively prevent the operation of such train ofmechanism when sulticien t filling remains in the shuttle tor weavingpurposes.

An' important feature of the present invention therefore, consists in ateeler motion wherein the teeler shall be sensitive to the cmdition ofsubstantial exhaustion of the filling and thereupon set in operation atrain of mechanism to change the condition of the loom. as by causingreplenishment. oi-

the filling or looni stoppage, and at the same time will heequally-scnsitive to the presence of a working supply of filling in theshuttle to prevent operation of such train 01 mechanism so .long as suchworking supply is present. 1

This feature of the invention is carried A into practical etlect byproviding the teeler motion with a rotatable fecler having a portionadapted to engage the filling 111 the Application filed January 22,i9l6. Serial No. 73,716.

Patented May 8, 1917.

shuttle as the lay makes its detecting beat,

and to be moved frontward by such beatup movement of the lay, theengaging portion of the feeler being such that when a Working supply offilling is-present, such feeler shall be prevented from rotating aboutits longitudinal axis as it is moved frontward by the mass-of filling inthe shuttle, but upon, substantial exhaustion of the filling that suchrotative movement of the feeler shall be permitted and thereupon setinto operation a train of mechanism to change the condition of the loomeither by filling replenishment or loom stoppage.

Another feature otthe present invention consists in a'feeler motionhaving a rotas table or rocking feelc r and an arm assoeiatcd therewith,and whiehleelcr will be prevented from such rotative or rocking movementon the detecting beat of the lay by engagement with the filling untilthe latter has reached a desired degree of exhaustion, and thereupon maybe turned or rocked to effect filling replenishment or loom stoppage, asthe case may be. In carrying into effect this feature of the invention,the feeler is mounted for rotative or rocking movement together with thecombinations of elements peculiar to the orgal'iization, will besubsequently defined by the claims.

In the drawings r- Figure 1 is a plan view showing sutlicient portionsotthe loom frame, the lay and its associated parts, and the teeler tomake clear the characteristics of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged .detail side view of the. rotative or rockingteeler with parts broken away, showing the filling-engaging part of thetecler in contact with a working supply ol filling on the bobbinorcarrier in the shuttle during the forward movement of the lay.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view of the t'ccler looking in the directionof the arrow, Fig. 1

at is a side elevation of the ii'eeler and its associated parts similarto that of 2, but showing the action of the feeler on its frontwardmovement when the filling is substantially exhausted; and

Fig. 5 is a view in slightly modified term, of the feeler.

The presentinvention is especially adapted for application to anautomatic loom wherein filling replenishment is made etljective toprovide a fresh supply of filling when that in the active shuttle hasbecome nearly or substantially exhausted; but it may, obviously, also beemployed in connection'with some other train of mechanism. In theillustrated form of the invention. the loom frame may be and is of anyusual or desired character and secured to the breast beam 1 is thetransverse or change shaft 2. This transverse or change shaft '2 iscommon in filling replenishing looms, and may be connected as usual tosuitable means for initiating filling replenishment when said shaft isrocked, all as will be readily understo'od 'by those skilled in the art.Secured to the transverse shaft 2 and extending upward therefrom, is theusual arm 3 having pivotally connected thereto the arm 4: which may foridentification be termed a latch or actuating latch because byiii-outward movement thereoi the transverse or change shaft. 2 is rockedin opposition to thcusual spring means for holding the transverse shaft2 and its connected parts in ino 'ierative position. Rear-ward of theactuating latch t. is the actuator 5 which. as usual. may be either theweft hammer or a part connected thereto.v and adapted to engage the endportion of the actuating latch '1 on frontward movement of the actuatorto cause "iid actuating-2. latch to he moved frontward and thereby rockthe transverse or change shaft L when the end of the latch is permittedto be positioned for engagement by the actuator.

Pivoted at 6 is the knocleotl lever 7. one end of which is adapted tobear against shipper S and to effect disengagement of said shipper fromits holding notch as usual when said knock-oil lever T is turned uponits pivotal mounting (3 in a clockwise direction. viewing Fig. 1.

l ivotally mounted on the bracket 9 at it is the transmitter 11 by whichthe position of the actuating latch 1- relative to the actuator 5 may becontrolled. In the illustrated form of the invention the transmitter 10is normally under the influence of a lightspring l2 tending to depressthe latch-engaging end of the transmitter and to pern'iit the end ofsuch transmitter to be normally below the path of movement of theactuator the construction being such that should the transmitter beturned in a direction against the tension of the light springlZ, that isin a direction to lift its latch-engaging end, said latch will bepositioned for engagemeut by the actuator 5 as the latter movesfrontward. The transverse or change shaft. the latch 4 and actuator 5may be substantially. the same as that disclosed in the patent to Woodand Northrop, No. 843,249, dated February 5, 1907. --The loom frame- 13.only part of which is indicated in lfi'g.'1,= sustains the usual lay 14provided with the usual shuttle-boxes for the reception-of he 5 shuttle15 in which is carried the usual lling carrier or bobbin 16 on which thefilling 17 is wound. The bobbin 16 may be of any appropriate characterand as shown it has the usual rings 18 for engagement with the holdingjaws in the shuttle and the shuttle itself is as us'uah provided with anopening in its lower wall through which a bobbin may be ejected by thefilling replenishing V mechanism when a new'supply of, fillin istransferred to the shuttle. The shuttle- )OX may be likewise providedwith usual opening 19 in its front wall adapted to register with acorresponding opening 20 in the side wall of the shuttle, theconstruction being such that when the shuttle 15 is in the box oppositetl1GfGl1,-tll8 filling engaging portion of the feeler may enter theshuttle and feel for the filling as the lay makes its detecting beat. 95

Mounted upon a suitable bracket 21, Fig. is an appropriate stand 22 inwhich is rotatably mounted the fecler 23. The stand 92 may be of anyappropriate character and as shown comprises a lower plate 24 and a topplate 25 appropriately secured in 00- operative relation by suitablemeans such as the screws 26. Fig. 1, and in order that the stand 92 maybe adjusted relative to the supporting bracket '21, the flanged portionof 105 the base and cover plates .24 and 25 may beprovided with a. slot27 through which extend the securing means such asthe bolts Fig. l, forholding the stand 22 and perforce. the feeler in appropriate position.

The stand is provided with suitable hearing portions 29 at its front andrear ends l'or the rotatable fceler 23, which is preirrahly formedcircular in cross section, the construction being such that the feeler 5may slide toward and from the front of the loom in such bearihg portions29 and h rocked or rotated therein.

The feeler 23 is normally under the influence of means for projecting ittoward the 120 rear of the loom, such means in the present instance,being shown as a spring 30 surrounding the fee'ler .23 within the stand'22 1 and a stop pin 31 is provided for limiting the rearward movementof the feeler under 125 the impulse of the spring, the constructionbeing such that the feeler Q3 will'be normally held in rearward positionby the spring 30.

As hercinbefore noted, an important fea- 13o ture of the presentinvention consists in a rotatable or rocking feeler, and in order toeffect such rotative or rocking movement of the feeler, the spring 30which normally projects the feeler rearward also tends nornially to turnor rock the feeler upon its longitudinal axis.v To this end one portionof the spring as at 32 is secured to the feeler stand '22, Fig. 2, andthe other end 33 of said spring is connected to thefeeler, theconstruction being such that the spring 30 normally exerts a turning orrocking tendency to the feeler. times to vary the rocking or turningtendency of the spring 30 upon the feeler 23, and to this end oneportion of the spring 30 at 33 is connected adjustably to the feeler. In.the present instance such ad justability of the end 33 of the spring issecured by means of a sleeve 34: to which one end 33 of the spring 30 issecured, the other end of said sleeve being provided with a series ofnotches 35 adapted to selectively engage a pin 36 extending from thefeeler,

the construction being such that by forcing the sleeve 33 frontward orto the "left, Fig. 2-, the-notched end portion thereof may be disengagedfrom the pin 36 and turned either to increase or decrease the torsionalaction of the spring 30, whereupon, by re lease of the sleeve 34, theappropriate notch will at once be engaged by the pin 36 to hold theparts in adjusted position.

It may be desirable at The feeler 23 is provided with a fillingengagingportion 87, Figs. 2 and 4-,,Which is so formed and roughened or serratedthat when such engaging portion is engaged by a working supply offilling in the shuttle as the lay makes its detecting beat and thereuponmoves the feeler 23 frontward, th mass of filling in the shuttle willprevent rotative or rocking movement Let thefecler 23 about itslongitudinal axis responi...- sue to the spring 30, Fig. F; but When thefilling has become substantially exhausted,

as in Fig. 4-, the end portion 5 '7 of the li'eeler will no longer beheld fromturning or rocking movement as the lay makes its detect ingheat so that on frontward movement of the feelen the spring 30 by itstorsional action. will turn the i'eeler about its longitudinal axisandefi'ect filling replenishment as will presently appearl It is thepurpose of the present invention to utilize the turning or rockingmovement oi the ieeler which is permitted when the filling has becomesubstantially exhausted, to initiate or'start in operation a train ofmechanism to effect filling replenishment when the shuttle returns tothe filling replenishing side of the loom. To this end fillingreplenishment. In the present in stance such means consists of an arm orfinger 38 wh ch is secured to the feeler and which'by turning or rockingmovement of the feeler as herembefore noted, is carried from its normalor full line position, Fig. 3,

to the dotted line position. In the illustrated form of the inventionthe arm or finger 38 is moved downwardly from its full to its dottedline position but it will be obvious of course that this will dependentirely upon the direction of torsional impulse of the feeler turningor rocking meanswhich, inthe present instance of the inventlon, is thespr ng 30 and which is illustrated as tending to turn the feeler in adirection to depress the arm or finger 38.

The transmitter 11 is provided with a part 39, Figs. 1 and ,3, adaptedto be engaged and moved by the arm or finger 38 when the latter is movedby the turning or rocking movement of the feeler. In the presentinstance of the invention the part 39 is formed as a ledge or table asindicated in Fig. 1 positioned beneath the end of the arm or finger 38,the construction being such that when the feeler is turned ashereinbefore noted, the finger or arm 38 will be depressed and byengagement with the part 39 actuate the transmitter 11 to position theactuating latch c in the path of the actuator 5 which thereupon, by itsforward movement, will rock the transverse or change shaft 2 andinitiate filling replenishment.

In order that the feeler 23 may be turned l or rocked at the criticaltime as the lay makes its detecting beat when filling is substantiallyexhausted, and yet be held from such rocking movement when the feeler isin its rearward position, means are provided to permit such rockingmovement only'when the feeler is moved frontward and to restore orrockthe fceler to its origi nal position when the feeler is in its rearwardposition. In the present instance of the invention, the stand 23 isprovided with the incline or cam portion 4:0, Figs. 2 and 4, leadingfrom a. position or horizontal edge 41 anthadaited to be en a 'ed by thearm 88 will rest upon the edge 11 of the stand- 22 and hold the t'eelerfrom turning or rocking movement responsive to its actuating means: orspring 30; but when the feeler is moved frontward on the detecting beatof the lay, the finger or arm .38 will move withv it and if a Workingsupply oi. filling is present-in the shuttle as indicated in Fig, 2, theengaging portion 37 of the teeler will maintain the feeler from turningor rocking movement responsive to the s 'iring 30, as the feeler movesto its front position; but should the filling have become substantiallyexhausted, as indicated in Fig. 4, the feeder will no longer be heldfrom turning or rocking movement and the finger or arm 38 will move downthe incline or cam portion l0 as the feeler moves front- Ward, therebyactuating the transmitter and initiating filling replenishment. When, on

backward movement of the lay, the fceler able variation of the action ofthe spying 30.-

lVhile the preferred form of the inven tion is shown as having thefilling-engaging portion of the feeler formed generally circular incharacter, it is to be understood that such endportion of the focler maybe of any appropriate form which, by engagement with a Working mass offilling, will prevent rotative rnovement of the feeler about itslongitudinal axis under the demands of its turning or rocking spring,andyet will permit such rotative or rocking movement when the mass offilling has been depleted to substantial exhaustion.

In Fig. 5 is represented a slightly-modified form of the feeler whereinthe end portion of the feeler is turned from axial alinement with themain portion thereof, as at 42, and

in this figure also, the feeling end portion of the fecler at 43 isflattened, but in this modification, as in the preferred form of theinvention, the turning of rocking movement of the fceler at the criticalmoment on the detecting heat is the agency whereby filling replenishmentor other change in the loom condition is made effective,. as describedfor the preferred form of the invention.

What is claimed is 1, In a feoler motion for looms, the combination of afeeler having a single filling engaging portion, a torsional springnormallv action to rotate the t'eeler and revented from effecting suchrotation on a de- ,tecting beat by the filling in the shuttle untilsubstantial exhaustion thereof, means for preventing rotative movementof the foeler when not engaged by the filling or carrier in the shuttle,and means for initiating reilenishmont when the torsional action of thespring eliects rotative movement of the feeler.

2. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler, a springnormally acting to rotate the feeler, a finger connected to thefeeler, afixed cam having a. portion for engaging the finger when the feeler isin rear position to prevent rotation of the feelerunder t-he normalaction of said spring, and a fixedinclined portion to permit the springto rotate the 'feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on atdetecting beat.

In a feoler motion for looms. the c0mbination of a rotatable ieeler, afinger connected to the feeler, a fixed stop on Which the fingernormally rests when the feeler is in rear position to prevent rotationof the ieeler, and. a spring normally acting to rotate the feeler whenthe finger is removed from the stop on a detecting beat and the fillingis substantially exhausted.

l. In a feeler motion for looms, the comhination of a feeler having afilling engaging portion, a finger extending from the S feeler, a fixedstop for said finger when the feeler is in rear position, and a springnormally acting torsionally upon the feeler and rotating the same whenthe finger is removed from the stop on a. detecting beat and the fillingis substantially exhausted.-

In a feeler motion for looms, a feeler, a feeler stand having a stop, afinger connected to the feeler and normally rest-- ing on the stop whenthe feeler is in rear position, and a spring forrotating the feeler whenthe finger is removed from the stop by the frontward movement of thelay'and the filling is substantially exhaust-ed.

6.1m a feeler motion for looms, the combination of'a feeler stand havinga fixed 1nclined portion, a fceler mounted for rotative movement in thestand, a spring acting directly on the feeler to turn it about itslongitudinal axis, a finger extending from the feeler and resting uponthe feeler stand at the top of the inclined portion when the feeler isin rear position and adapted to teelei-"is in rear position and adaptedto move along the fixed inclined portion of the stand in response to thespring when the color is moved fronhvard on a detecting beat and thefilling is substantially -exhausted, and means rendered effective by themovement ofthe finger over the fixed inclined portion of the stand toinitiate filling replenishment.

8. In afeeler motion for looms, the combination of a fe'eler to feelforthe filling in the shuttle as the lay beats up, a torsional springhaving one end fixed and the other secured to the feeler, said springnormally tending to rock the feeler about its longitudinal axis andprevented from effectino such rocking movement by engagement 0 thefeeler with the Wound mass of filling until the filling is substantiallyexhausted and thereupon effecting such rocking movement, and meansrendered effective by such rocking movement of the feeler forreplenishing the filling.

9. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler to feel forthe filling in the shuttle as the lay beats up, a spring tending to rockthe feeler about its longitudinal axis and prevented from effecting suchrocking movement by engagement of the feeler with the Wound mass offilling until the filling is substantially exhausted and thereuponeffecting such rocking movement, means for adjusting the rockingtendency of the spring, and means rendered effective by such'rockingmovement of the feeler for replenishing the filling.

I 10. In a feeler motion for looms, a feeler to feel for the filling inthe. shuttle and be moved frontward by the Wound mass of filling as thelay beats up, means normally tending to rock the feeler about itslongitudinal axis as it is moved frontward and prevented from effectingsuch rocking movement by engagement of the feeler with he filling untilsubstantial exhaustion, and means independent of the normally actingnieansfor preventing rocking movement of .the feeler when the feeler isin its rearward 7 position'and becoming ineffective when the feeler ismoved frontwardly on a detecting beat, v,

11. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler to feelfor the filling in the shuttle as the lay heats up, a torsional' springacting upon the feeler and tending to rotate or rock the feeler aboutits longtudinal axis and prevented from effecting such rotating orrocking movement by "ei'1- gagement of the feeler ivith the Wound mass]of filling until tle filling is substantially exhausted and thereuponeffecting such rotating or rocking movement, means for Ya: i'ying thetorsional action of the spring, and means rendered effective by suchrotating or rocking movement of-the feeler for replenishing. thefilling. V

12. A feeler motion for looms, comprising in combination, a feelermounted for movement longitudinally of and rotative movement about itsaxis and held fromsuch rotative movement by the mass of filling on thedetecting beat-up of the lay until substantial exhaustion of thefilling, an arm connected to the feeler, and means for engaging said armwhen the feeler is in rear position to prevent rotative movement of thefeeler, said arm being freed from said means as the lay beats up topermit the feeler to be rotated or rocked on its longitudinal axisprovided the filling is substantially exhausted.

13. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feelermounted for longitudinal and rotative or rocking movemcnt and held fromsuch rotative or rocking movement on a detecting beat by the filling inthe shuttle when a working supply of fill ing is present, an armconnected to-the feeler, means for engaging said,ar'n 1 when the feeleris in rear position to prevent r0 tative movement of'the feeler, saidarm being 7 hausted to initiate filling replenishment:

14. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, .afeele'rmnunted' for longitudinal and rota'tive movements and held fromsuch rotatiys movement ondetecting beat of the 'lay' by the filling inthe;

shuttle when a Working supply is -present, anarm connected to thefeeler,,.;a support on Which .said arm rests when thefeeler is' in rearposition to prevent rotative mje'rvement of the feeler and from Which"it is freed by frontivard movement of the feelerto permit rotativemovement of thefeeler provided the filling is s ubstantially exhaustedon a detecting beat, said support having an inclined portion forresetting the feeler as the latter-moves to rearward position after -adetection of substantial exhaustion of filling. and n :eans cofiperatingwith said arm for initiating replen shment of filllng.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

TI 1 OMAS FERGUSON.

